NL MARITIME NEWS

NL MARITIME NEWS

A NewsLink service for Dole Colombia International maritime news for seafarers

Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Headland SatNews

NATIONAL

ISF calls on governments to facilitate shore leave

The International Shipping Federation (ISF), which represents maritime employers globally, is calling on port states to facilitate the right of seafarers to shore leave, in line with governments' international treaty obligations, by proposing a new pragmatic approach to visa requirements. ISF has made this proposal in a submission to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Facilitation Committee, which next meets in April to consider its current review of the IMO Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL). The FAL Convention includes a blanket prohibition on port states requiring seafarers to obtain visas in order to enjoy shore leave, said a press release. The long established principle that, due to the special nature of their employment, seafarers should not be required to hold a visa for the purposes of shore leave is enshrined in various international Conventions, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 185 and 108, as well the IMO FAL Convention. However, in a post '9/11' world of heightened concerns about security and immigration issues, the ability of seafarers to exercise this right is increasingly being challenged, with visas now required in the US and Australia. Problems are still being reported of seafarers not being able to leave their ships without visas within the Schengen area of the EU, in spite of efforts by the European Commission to resolve these difficulties. Problems also exist in Brazil, Singapore, South Africa and other countries. "Despite the clear principle established by various Conventions, many port states do now require a large number of seafarers to obtain visas in advance in order to enjoy shore leave. This causes serious difficulties for seafarers - especially those operating in tramp trades that may not have the opportunity to apply for a visa in advance." said ISF Director of Employment Affairs, Natalie Shaw. As part of the ongoing review of the FAL Convention, several governments have supported proposals to add "visa number, if appropriate" within the information that port states can be permitted to request from ships.

IEA chief economist: High oil prices posing risk to global economy
Fatih Birol, the International Energy Agency's chief economist, has said that high Brent crude oil prices are posing a greater risk to the global economy. "The current prices are a major problem for global economic recovery, especially for Europe, the weakest chain of the global economy for the time being," Birol said. According to Birol, if oil prices remain at these levels, European oil and gas import bills for 2013 will reach EUR 500 billion, which means a "major problem for the European and global economy."

SAFETY Onboard planning

For health and safety reasons, as well as for the good management of crew on board, ship officers should ensure that a system is in place that involves daily meetings of senior personnel with other crew members on board. It is also important that during these meetings, a detailed discussion is held about the activities that are to be undertaken during the day. It is equally important for department heads to be aware of the work being undertaken by their staff. This is best done with a planned work schedule, which can

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Strike, protests hit Egypt's Port Said for 3rd day

A third day of protests and strikes brought the restive city of Port Said to a halt on Tuesday, as demonstrators demanded security officials be held accountable for the killings of over 40 residents in riots last month. The strategic city at the mouth of the Suez Canal has been at the forefront of protests against President Mohammed Morsi, highlighting the government's difficulty in asserting authority as discontent widens beyond the capital, Cairo. Despite the protests, shipping through the canal, a key pillar of the economy, has not been disrupted. In Port Said, thousands marched in support of a general strike called by football fans and students. Some carried banners bearing the names of their companies. Others held aloft pictures of those killed in the violence. Most chanted against the president. "This strike and protest will not end until our demands are met," said Amira el-Alfi, a 33-year old secretary who said factory managers had sent workers home early to join the march. (AP)

be derived at the beginning of each day, or planned in advance and continuously modified as necessary. Team meetings before undertaking any specific job allows better monitoring of the work in progress and keeps the crew informed about the work being undertaken by their fellow seafarers. The chief engineer should ensure that he or his staff on duty is notified of deck crew working in engine room compartments. It is also important that engineers notify deck officers of their intentions to work on equipment elsewhere on board. If the chief officer is informed of engineer operations being undertaken in spaces such as the forepeak store, etc, then that information is probably useless unless shared. A good system would see the C/O inform the boatswain, who in turn should bring this to the attention of any crew working in the area. A prudent officer will ensure that he knows where his staff is working and ensures that they report to him when work is completed or finished for the day. Source: UK P&I Club

Panama Canal Administrator presents expansion programme

Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L Quijano presented the Panama Canal Expansion Programme during his recent visit to Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. During the conference, Quijano highlighted the impact of the Panama Canal Expansion on the US Gulf ports, focusing on those located in Texas. "An important number of the vessels of various segments that transit the Canal today have as port of origin or destination the US Gulf ports. Furthermore, once the Panama Canal Expansion is concluded, there is also a great potential for exports of shale gas from this specific area that could use our waterway to markets in the Pacific," Quijano said. Local maritime sector including stakeholders from the ports of Houston and Beaumont-Port Author, Sabine Pilots Association, as well as Lamar University's faculty and students attended the conference, said a press release. During a meeting of the Lamar University College of Engineering Advisory Council, Quijano, a Lamar University alumnus, received two awards in honour of his distinguished career in the Panama Canal. He was awarded the Texas Industrial Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements and dedication to the industrial engineering profession. Dr Brian Craig, chair of the Department of Industrial Engineering of the College of Engineering at Lamar University, presented Quijano with the award on behalf of the University of Texas - Arlington, the University of Texas - El Paso, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, University of Houston and Lamar University.

PCG on oil spill alert in Cape Bolinao

Units of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were placed on alert Monday afternoon after an oil spill was spotted off Cape Bolinao, Pangasinan, the area where the ill-fated Myanmar vessel sank late last week. Aerial reconnaissance operations conducted by Coast Guard helicopter (PCG-1636) discovered the oil spill 10 nautical milesnorthwest of Cape Bolinao, PNA reported.
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PCG Marine Environmental Protection Command head Commodore Joel Garcia said that an oil spill response team from the Coast Guard District Northwestern Luzon is already conducting water sampling and placed oil spill booms in the area to prevent the spill from further spreading. Around 9:20am on February 17, a Chinese bulk carrier transiting Philippine waters, reported that they rescued 10 Myanmar nationals, the crewmen of the ill-fated vessel, aboard two life rafts at approximately 22 nautical miles off Cape Bolinao. The vessel was bound to Ningbo, China from Obi, Indonesia when it encountered engine trouble and experienced rolling that eventually led to its sinking off Bolinao.

SECURITY Dutch, Spanish navies detain 9 'pirates' off Somalia

The Dutch and Spanish navies on Tuesday detained nine alleged pirates off the Somali coast, the Dutch Defence Ministry said in a statement. A helicopter took off from Dutch frigate De Ruyter early Tuesday after a Panamian-registered vessel said it had felt threatened. The helicopter intercepted one high-speed boat and detained "some" of the suspects, the ministry said. Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez also dispatched a helicopter which intercepted another speedboat, detaining more suspects, all of whom are now aboard the Dutch ship. The ministry said those on board the detained skiffs had thrown objects overboard and tried to head off in different directions. After a spike at the start of the last decade, successful pirate attacks on commercial vessels sailing off the Horn of Africa have diminished, deterred by the EU Naval Force's anti-piracy operation Atalanta. (AFP)

ACCIDENT Ship breaking workers fall sick after inhaling carbon-dioxide

At least eight workers fell ill after inhaling excessive carbon-dioxide gas while opening a gas cylinder at ARL Ship Breaking Limited in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong late last week. According to police, the workers at the ship breaking yard mistakenly opened a gas cylinder in the engine room of a ship. The director of the yard said that they would cover all their (workers) health care costs.

SCHEME New medical scheme launched for Filipino seafarers

A new medical scheme has been launched by the 'A' rated, 170 million GT North P&I club to help its members ensure their Filipino crew members receive the best treatment when repatriated to the Philippines as a result of injury or illness at sea. The scheme, which will be operated by a clinic in Manila, should also help shipowners avoid paying bills for unnecessary treatments, which they are not legally and contractually responsible for.
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According to Claims Executive Gary Clifton of North's personal injury team, "The benefits to repatriated seafarers are the timely provision of excellent health care and the completion of the necessary treatment as soon as possible allowing them toresume work at the earliest opportunity."

HI-TECH Contra-Rotating Propellers: New system prediction software

Many contemporary marine vehicles are being outfitted with contra-rotating propellers (CRP) and naval architects need the ability to model the performance of CRP systems - a capability that has been lacking until now. As part of its ongoing internal R&D program, HydroComp, Inc. has just deployed a new CRP system analysis module into HydroComp NavCad, the industry-standard software for the prediction and analysis of vessel speed and power performance. Published comparisons of the efficiency between standard fixed-pitch propellers (FPP) and CRP propellers typically indicate that CRPs are between 3% and 10% more efficient. It is often presumed that the efficiency gains of a CRP are due solely to recovery of energy lost in the rotational flow of a single propeller, according to a press release. While recovery of rotational energy is partly responsible for the efficiency gains with a CRP, much of the gain actually occurs due to improved inflow and the reduction in propeller blade loading (with its corresponding change in RPM and blade area ratio). HydroComp evaluated an extensive catalogue of published studies that made direct comparison between FPP and CRP propellers. From the results of this evaluation, a new CRP performance prediction method was developed around a "system-level" model using only the representative definition of one propeller in the set to determine the overall system performance. The intent of the new CRP method is to reasonably predict the overall performance of a CRP "system", and is not intended to provide a means to design or size the specific details of the blade sets. HydroComp's new CRP (Simple) model includes proper consideration of: Thrust and torque division for proper individual blade loading; reduction in loading due accelerated induced velocities; increased efficiency due to improved inflow and recovery of rotational losses and reduced hull efficiency due to rudder interaction.

SHIPPING DATA
BALTIC EXCHANGE
Market snapshot: 1100 GMT Dry Capesize Panamax Supramax Index Index Index Index BDI 738 -9

BCI 1377 -31 BPI BSI 859 +14 687 +8

Handysize Index BHSI

411 No Change

EXCHANGE RATES
New York (Tue Cls)

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Fgn Currency in USD Britain (Pound) Canada (Dollar) China (Yuan) Euro India (Rupee) 1.5423 0.9882 0.1600 1.3389 0.0185

USD in Fgn Currency 0.6484 1.0119 6.2490 0.7469 54.1760 9705.00 93.4400 5.5338 40.6700 3.1100 30.0775 1.2359

Indonesia (Rupiah) 0.000103 Japan (Yen) Norway (Krone) Philippines (Peso) Poland (Zloty) Russia (Ruble) Singapore (Dollar) 0.010703 0.1807 0.0246 0.3213 0.0332 0.8091

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